Israeli and Palestinian Leaders to Meet With Pope at Vatican
Pope Francis waded into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace-making soon after arriving here on Sunday, issuing an extraordinary invitation to President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and President Shimon Peres of Israel to join him in his home in the Vatican next month for “a heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace.”
Both sides welcomed the pope’s invitation. Mr. Peres would attend, an Israeli source confirmed. Church and Palestinian officials said the meeting would be largely symbolic and, since Mr. Peres, a longtime advocate of peace, plays a mainly ceremonial role not in Israel, would not involve political negotiations.
The pope also gave the Palestinians an uncommon boost by openly endorsing “the State of Palestine.”
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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/26/world/middleeast/pope-francis-west-bank.html?emc=edit_na_20140525
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